Artificial dam



J. WySHAW. ARTIFICIAL DAM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27. 1919.

Patented Feb. 17,1920.

. INVEN R H1 ATTORNEY JOHN W. SHAW, OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

ARTIFICIAL DAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

Application filed June 27, 1919. Serial No. 307,048.

To all whom 2'2 may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN W. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Santa Clara county, in the State of California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Dams, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for use in forming a dam to control theflow of water used in irrigating land.

It is the object of my invention to provide a simple, substantial meansfor forming an artificial dam to control the flow of irrigating water,and one that may be adjusted to permit more or less water to flowthereover as desired, and that will be cheap to manufacture, that willfold into small space, and that may be quickly and easily positioned andadjusted.

In the drawing the figure is a perspective view of my improvedartificial dam in an operative position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates a standardsupported in an upright position on base 2. At 3 is a collar carrying apin 4, freely movable on standard 1 and held in any position thereon byfrictional contact therewith when in an inclined position as shown. Uponpin 4 are pivotally mounted a pair of arms 5, each arm having an eye 6formed upon its end to engage pin 4. At 7 is shown an oblong piece ofcanvas having three free edges 8, 9 and 10 and having its fourth edgeformed into a pair of loops 11, a division of this edge being made asshown at 12 to permit the free movement of arms 5 on pin 4.

In use the device is positioned as shown with the outer ends of members5 resting upon the sides of the opening to be dammed and with suflicientsoil thrown upon its free edges 8-9 and 10 to prevent the passage ofwater thereby. The members above referred to may now be positioned atthe point indicated at A thereby preventing the passage of water overthe top of the dam, or they may be placed in any lower position asinclicated at B to permit the passage of a small amount of waterthereover as indicated by the small arrows 13. By dropping the mem bersstill lower as to point C a larger amount of water is permitted to passover the dam. The water level in the main stream is indicated by thedotted line 14.

The result of this construction is that the exact quantity of waterdesired may be allowed to flow over the dam without danger of thatquantity increasing as long as the main flow remains uniform, andwithout danger of destructive erosion and washes. This accurate controlof the water flow is not possible where an earth dam is used since theerosive action of the water tends to rapidly enlarge the passage over anearth dam. If edges 89 and 10 are properly bedded in the soil asindicated at 15 there is no opportunity for undue erosion. The quantityof water flowing over the members 5 can be quickly and easily stopped,lessened or increased merely by sliding collar 3 upwardly or downwardlyon standard 1 as desired. A dam of this type may be set and adjusted inbut a fraction of the time required for forming a dam of earth and withmuch less labor.

It is understood of course that changes in form, construction,proportions and method of operation may be made within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An artificial dam comprising a standard, a member adjustably mountedthereon, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said adjustable member, anda sheet of flexible material supported by said arms.

2. An artificial dam comprising a standard, a member slidably mountedthereon and maintained in position thereon by frictional contacttherewith, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said adjustable member,and a sheet of flexible material supported by said arms.

3. An artificial dam comprising a standard, a laterally projecting pinhaving an eye formed thereon and slidably engaging said standard, a pairof arms, each arm having an eye formed on one end thereof engaging saidpin, and a sheet of flexible material hav ing a pair of loops formed onone edge thereof, each loop being adapted to engage one of said arms.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af fixed my signature this 21st dayof June, 1919.

JOHN W. SHAW.

